With the night already spent, Davis didn’t linger and didn’t bother wasting time, he pressed a soft kiss on her forehead and stood up.
Taking a deep breath, he stepped into the bathroom, shedding his exhaustion with every article of clothing as he prepared for a hot bath. The trials and tribulations of relaunching the company had finally come to an end and the weight of relaunching had finally lifted.
As he sank into the hot water, Davis let out a deep sigh, the warmth soothing the aches in his body and predominantly his legs. The strain had become a quiet but constant companion constantly bothering him lately—so much so that he sometimes wondered if he was pushing too hard, just like she always warned..
The hot water worked its magic, soothing both the numbness and the lingering ache. By the time Davis stepped out and dried off, he felt the edge of fatigue dulling. Dressed in comfortable pajamas, he returned to the bedroom and slipped beneath the sheets.
As though she sensed him in her sleep, Jessica stirred and instinctively rolled into his arms, her body curling into his.
A soft smile tugged at Davis’s lips. Holding her in moments reassured him. She was his wife—his to protect, his to keep and no one could take that from him. With that comforting thought and a content sigh, Davis closed his eyes and let sleep pull him under, peace settling over their home.
The scene and atmosphere in the Watts household couldn’t be more different. A complete opposite of Davis’s peaceful home and every other home in Noveira.
In the grand dining hall, key members of the family were seated around a long, polished table,their expressions stern and focused.
At the head of the table sat Elder Watts. Years of experience in the business world had etched deep lines into his face.
Before each of them lay an open file, and a projector cast figures and charts onto the screen at the end of the wall as their gazes were locked on it.
Before the projector, Tricia stood confidently, presenting a detailed report on the upcoming launch. She spoke with clarity and poise. Outlining the vision for the launch,its scope, its market impact, projected impact, and long-term benefits.
Elder Watts, seated at the head of the table, listened intently. Years of leadership had carved stern wisdom into his face.
"Tricia," he said finally, "progress is good, growth is necessary. But remember, we must never lose sight of our core values—fair judgment and trustworthiness."
"This family built its name on these values and had always tried to maintain them. We cannot abandon that now." he concluded in a firm voice.
Tricia nodded respectfully "Grandfather, I agree. But as I mentioned, J&D is merely a spark in the wind—new, noisy, and untested. The market will correct them in time."
"You cannot underestimate your opponent." Another voice chimed.
"I understand, uncle. As I mentioned earlier, J&D is a fledgling company that’s just making a temporary splash. It’s uncertain how long they can stay relevant."
Charles, her father, leaned forward. "Still... I agree with your grandfather, perhaps it’s wise to postpone the launch. Once the hype and noise around J&D dies down which shouldn’t take long, you can proceed without the unnecessary heat."
Tricia drew in a slow breath maintaining her composure.. "With all due respect, Dad, I understand your concerns, but all arrangements have already been finalized. The hall is booked, invitations confirmed. Canceling now.... Canceling now would be more than an embarrassment—it would be a reputational blow and would cause unnecessary losses."
There were murmurs of agreement around the table.
"Why not seek partnership with the newly launched company?" a voice asked.
"They are not suitable for the Watts group and until then it remains in the background." Tricia responded immediately.
She dare not accept such an option and no matter what, her company already had a long standing presence in Noveira and she is quite confident of the outcome.
Then, from the far end, a voice cut through the room.
"Sis," Daniel said evenly, his voice calm yet cutting, "this may sound strange but did you have anything to do with that... little ’incident’ and disruption during J&D’s launch tonight?"
Silence fell like a curtain.
Tricia’s grip on her pen tightened, her knuckles paling. She met his gaze coldly. "Daniel, are you seriously suggesting I would stoop to sabotage over a simple product launch?"
Daniel’s lips curled into a small, icy smile. "I didn’t say you did. I just happened to come across something... interesting. Thought you might want to know."
Tricia’s face flushed with rage, her jaw clenched. She wanted nothing more than to slap him, to lash out, to remind him of his place but with the rest of the family present, she held back.
Instead, she turned to the head of the table. "Grandpa, don’t you think backing out now would hurt the family’s image?"
Elder Watts let out a tired breath. He glanced from Tricia to Daniel, aware of the cold war and ongoing rivalry brewing between them. He stayed neutral, especially since Charles had remained silent.
"Tricia wouldn’t resort to underhanded tactics," Charles said finally, his voice steady. "What would she even gain from it?"
Daniel gave a half-hearted nod, his tone dipped in sarcasm and laced with venom. "Of course. She wouldn’t. Sister cannot do that. She’s a good girl."
His words stung more than they sounded, the venom in them unmistakable. The tension in the room deepened. Everyone knew the truth, Tricia was the family’s crown jewel, the pride of the family and Daniel—the illegitimate son—was barely tolerated. Fire and water, the two had never mixed.
Daniel stood abruptly, his voice calm but laced with warning. "Clearly, my opinion isn’t welcome. So I’ll say this and leave—whoever you crossed tonight, Tricia, isn’t someone ordinary. And the price for that mistake... will be steep."
With a respectful nod to the elder, he turned and walked out.
Tricia’s eyes followed him, burning with cold fury. After the launch, she thought, I’ll seize full control of the company... and put him exactly where he belongs.
Elder Watts cleared his throat, redirecting the family’s attention. "Let’s stay focused. The launch proceeds as planned. No further delays."
He stood, his chair scraping softly against the floor. "Tricia. Charles. Meet me in the study."
As he exited, quiet murmurs resumed. Though no one addressed Daniel’s parting words directly, the weight of them lingered in the air.
Despite being denied a rightful position, Daniel had made a name for himself beyond the Watts family—a name that held power in Noveira’s elite circles.
By the end of the meeting, a cautious resolution was made by some of the family members, a proactive decision depending on Daniel’s words.
To quietly sell off a portion of the family’s shares at an enticing price—should any major anomaly arise.